Comments on: Aortic Valve Replacement – Followed up

By: Santo Bruno

Santo Bruno — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:22:24 +0000

Hi, can you please specify your age at the time of the
operation and whether your job was sedentary or quite physical? I’m
53 and had the same type of operation 6 weeks ago. I’m wondering
when I’ll be able to go back to work; my job is my very physical, I
commute 74 miles a day to work and back home and my shifts can be
as long as 12 hours. Thanks so much for any advice.

By: ChristianTF

ChristianTF — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:44:23 +0000

Hi everyone,
I had my aortic valve replaced 8 weeks ago, using a minimally invasive procedure. All has gone well, apart from a minor problem after I was discharged (some irregularity due to low potassium). However, this last week, my heart’s suddenly decided that adding the occasional extra beat would be a good idea – did you have similar experiences? Although the heart rhythm tends to be fairly steady, the extra beats are really obvious and give me a bit of an odd feeling (of course, the swine flu vaccine might be to blame?!?).

By: Parshav

Parshav — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:34:44 +0000

Hey Anthony,

Many thanks for taking the time to write up about your experiences.
i am 20 yrs n underwent Aortic Valve replacement 2 yrs back. nw hav a metal valve.
i ws just interested i knowing if i could do weights in my gym.I’v already been doing cardio.
actually de doc who operated me told me that i could do weights bt recently i changed my town so my new doctor adviced me not to do weights at all n to do cardio only
please hepl me regarding this..
thanks a bunch for ur time

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:59:12 +0000

P.S.
what is your target INR reading? / warfrin Dose? i understand you can buy a monitor to check your INR level, its similar to a blood glucose monitor you have if your diabetic. i hear it costs a bit but it saves you going to your doctor all the time.
Andrew

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:49:22 +0000

Hi i am 27 and due the same operation i have a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic stinosis and an anurysm. i dont have the shortness of breath, but the surgeon wants to operate due to the size of the anurysm, i have been getting dizzy and pains in my chest and not sleeping well recently (since i have been told about the op) so im hoping that its mainly due to stress. my question is how well have you been getting on with the warfrin? i hear of many different side effects and it really worries me. Im really not looking forward to it. my surgeon recomends i go for the metal valve for the same reason you mention, he has said he will give me a biological one if i wanted though. authough i have heard of a surgeon recomending a biological valve to a friend of a friend which they have had done. and they aparrently feel fine at the moment a couple of years after the op. He was roughly the same age then as i am now. have you found out any more about warfrin with your experiance now?
Many thanks for your time,
Andrew

By: angela

angela — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:42:57 +0000

hi ignore my previous message about an update, i have just seen it…..

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:17:34 +0000

Anthony I want to thank you for your posts on this. I wonder if you could answer a question. I enjoy running (up to 20km) and doing weights in the gym, admittedly in the past I have passed out a couple of times doing the latter. Do you know whether I’d need to stop or reduce this kind of thing if I get a mechanical valve replacement? I’m just wondering how you’ve been told to treat exercise in the long term (I see you mention the first 3 months). I’m worried it would cause to much stress on a mechanical device and limit things?

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:13:53 +0000

Hi Phil, I did add you to MSN but you’ve not spoken to me yet, maybe its a different address, if so my MSN is anthony@ansmedia.co.uk.

No my doctor didn’t advice for me to take Aspirin.

The ticking will be noticeable at times but after after a while you only hear it if you chose to.

With regards to exercise, I wouldn’t recommend anything too strenous at all for the first three months. My surgeon also adviced me not to play any contact sports so mountain biking might be out of the question.. I would ask your surgeon, they are normally really helpful.

Yes it is a legal requirement to inform my Insurance Company, didn’t have to mention it to the DVLA. Also note that your insurance company may ask you to get confirmation from the Doctors that I was fit to drive. My Doctor got really angry about that, they aren’t allowed to request that. Or something..

My MSN is above, good luck with the op – I hope it goes well please keep in touch. Maybe you could do a guest post of your experiences?

Best of luck.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:01:33 +0000

Hey Anthony,

Many thanks for taking the time to write up about your experiences.
I’m 21 and due for the same operation on the 3rd of March… (I’ve had an artery repair at 18months old)
Your blog has certainly cleared a few things up that no surgeon or doctor could describe (unless themselves have been through the operation).

I’ve chosen the mechanical valve which means Warfarin and horrible needles every month (My biggest phobia…)

I have a few questions though…
* Did your doctor/specialist/surgeon recommend Gastro Resistant Aspirin before the operation? (75mg, once daily… has less harsh effects than Warfarin but helps prevent chest pain with certain conditions)
I’ve self prescribed a 75mg Daily dose (it’s off the shelf stuff). But I have no idea if it’s a good idea to stop the dosage for 7 days before the op like you would if you were taking Warfarin already.

* Is the ticking from the valve noticeable? I’d assume you’d get used to it after a while… I’m just wondering if it will be alarming to wake up with a ticking noise from my chest area.

* Does the valve have any effect on activity? Ie: will it cope if I start exercising (Gentle at first) and progress to harsh exercise (when my body is able to cope with the strain) such as Mountain Biking.

* Was it a legal requirement to inform the car insurance company and DVLA? (Full UK Licence holder)

* Last question on here… Are you available to talk on MSN/Xbox Live etc? It may sound selfish but it may be a great help if me and my mrs can talk to someone in real time who has had this experience.

Many thanks again!
Phil

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:22:26 +0000

Hi John,

I experienced pains at the bottom of my Ribs for about 3 months, especially when taking a deep breathe.

That said if the pains are bad then I would recommend getting it checked, even if I didn’t.

You’ll get there. When you get out the other end its like a new lease of life! Well it was for me, I’m not tired all the time anymore.

Best of luck and feel free to write back if there is anything else.

Anthony